Page:Philosophical Transactions - Volume 004.djvu/14

 of those branches so distant, that Melons will grow; but they cannot be good, because they are so far from the place, which affords them their nourishment; and their Juyce is alter'd by the length of its passage through the branches, which the Sun spoileth; whereas the foot of the Melon being short and well truss'd, there are always leaves covering the branches and even the Melons themselves, until they be near ripe.

Too great heat patches them too much to take nourishment well; and this you must take care of. He that is curious, must every day walk often in his Melon-garden, to cut off all the branches, which he shall observe to be useless, or hurtful, You'l find of them to shoot forth almost to the Eye, and they are capable to alter all, if it be not remedied in time.

I must not forget to tell you, that from the midst betwixt the two Ears and the two first Leaves there shoots out yet one branch more, which ought to be kept, if vigorous, but cut, if weak.

In the Figure I have mark'd a Leaf with 5, shooting out from the midst of the fourth knot: I might have mark'd more, coming forth successively from one another, as you see the fourth come from the third, &c.

We may perhaps the next Moneth impart to the Reader another Letter from the same Generous and Intelligent person, upon the same Subject.

Ac Problematum omnium Solidorum effectio per easdem Curvas.

He Argument the Title declares to be the same with that in the Geometry of the famous Des-Cartes; viz. That Ancient Probleme of finding two Means, or Doubling the Cube, Rh